Fall 2026: Press, Democracy, & Institutional Trust

 

By: Katie Carpenter, Maria Cassereau, & Leila Naganna

Generative AI is already part of daily life in K-12 schools, yet policy has been slow to catch up. This memo looks at how that gap affects the people inside schools, with attention to more than cheating. It finds that AI strains the trust among students, teachers, and parents, which can undermine motivation and contribute to teacher burnout. It also finds that heavy reliance on AI may displace the peer interaction students need for social development, although the evidence suggests the effect depends on how the tools are used. State responses are different: most states offer some kind of guidance, and a small number require districts to act. In response to these findings, the memo recommends three policies. Every district should adopt and regularly review an AI policy. Families should receive notice of AI tools, and opt-out, and a clear explanation of the rules in each syllabus. Teachers should keep control of grading, discipline, and feedback, and AI use should be disclosed. These policies give schools shared expectations to rebuild trust around.

 

By: Cece Ebora & Ashley Ramirez-Martinez

REAL ID legislation has since led to confusion surrounding the requirements of voter photo ID. Although ballot security is a national priority, voter accessibility should also be included within policy implementation. This policy memo consists of an evaluation of the significance of a REAL ID and a comparison of its validity against a standard ID. A comprehensive summary of administrative barriers while obtaining a voter ID was additionally conducted. Finally, a comparative analysis of North Carolina’s voter ID laws with other states was conducted. Research findings led to policy recommendations such as mobile access to overcome barriers and educational campaigns on acceptable photo identification.

 

By: Isabel Schimpff & Kiley Sherlock

As social media becomes a heavily relied on source for news, entertainment, and information, the algorithmic system paired with the use of artificial intelligence exacerbates the spread of misinformation and polarization between users. These issues of misinformation and polarization are left to grow with little to no enforced policies currently in place. To combat this, this memo encourages the implementation of a two-part policy which pairs behavioral friction with mandated transparency reports. These seemingly small steps will go far to bring this “mysterious” problem to light and turn the complex innerworkings of these digital systems into digestible topics.

 

By: Ryan Grandison, Ariel Solomon, & Soren Peterson

As the world has become more interconnected, news media outlets and conglomerates have never had greater reach. For the last century, American media has led this global expansion, with government broadcasting organizations and private companies alike advancing American soft power across the airwaves. As the US’ relationships with traditional allies are bent by the second Trump administration, several questions emerge: How does the administration interfere in other states’ internal politics? How is this reflected in America’s portrayal in non-American media? And, what does this mean for the future of American soft power?